THANKSGIVING MIRACLE!!!

Find the Hollis's blog HERE

I just checked the Hollis's blog. This is what Melanie said:

"Most of you know by now, our family decided three years ago to forgo giving presents to one another during the holidays. Instead, we reach out and raise money for orphan ministries.

We just finished going through the book, "Crazy Love" by Frances Chan with our kids and decided this year, we wanted to be CRAZY for Jesus! He is so crazy about us, we wanted to share His love with everyone throughout the year, but especially during November and December.

Lydia took "CRAZY" to a whole new level, however, when she approached me (while her dad was on a mission trip in Africa) and asked if she raised $20,000.00 before Thanksgiving, could we adopt a little orphan girl, Darya, who has Down Syndrome in Eastern Europe. (A friend of ours adopted a little boy from the same orphanage and reported that Darya gets no attention at all....no one speaks to her or holds her.)

THAT WAS 8 DAYS AGO! Being a sensible 41 year old, I told Lydia she would never be able to raise $20,000.00 in 8 days.....she is only eleven. She didn't hear me. Instead, she asked again, "But if I do raise the money, will you adopt her?" I responded yes, if she raised that much money in 8 days, we would know God is in it and would travel to adopt Darya!

Tonight, I would like to report that Miss Lydia has raised $26,550.00 and the donations are still coming in. It just so happens, we have good friends who have been planning to adopt a little one with Down Syndrome through Reece's Rainbow, but lack of funds has delayed them. Not anymore, everything above $20,000.00 goes to them.

So, friends, you have been a part of a double Thanksgiving Miracle. Not only will Darya have a home ....but through your gifts, another little angel will be given hope for a family tomorrow too! God is so great, isn't He?

Lydia will be on the local Fox Morning Show tomorrow at 6:45am. I will try my very best to post it to the blog, because I know so many want to see it.

"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say REJOICE!" Phil. 4:4"

The Darya Project

I recently came upon a family, The Hollis Family. They are a great inspiration to all of us who think we have crazy lives. They have two children with Down Syndrome + 3 other kids. One of their children was born with a heart defect, stomach defect, and Down Syndrome. Her name is Hope and she has encouraged many people with her beautiful smile. After birthing Hope, they adopted an adorable red-headed little boy, Charlie.

Their 11 year old daughter, Lydia, has fallen in love with a little girl from the Reece's Rainbow sight. Her name is Darya and she has Down Syndrome. Melanie (the mom) told Lydia if she could raise $20,000 then they could adopt Darya.

The truth is, many, many children in Europe who have Down Syndrome suffer a terrible life. They are often sent to mental institutions where they lie in a bed most of their life. They are pretty much just left there to die. They don't have anyone to love them or tell them "I love you!" These children live terrible lives, with just enough food to get by. Most of them die before they hit 1 year old. Now tell me-- Isn't that just horrifying?!

Well, the Hollis family is willing to change the outcome for one precious little girl. Isn't that what it's all about?- caring for one child at a time??? Darya has spent most of her life in a crib with little interaction... but soon that will change.

Lydia has faithfully accepted the challenge her mom gave her. Lydia set out last Tuesday to raise $20,000. In the past week, she has raised over $13,000 out of the $20,000.

Lydia has not only set out to raise the $20,000, but her goal is to raise it by Thanksgiving... TOMORROW!

We all need to have faith like a child. Lydia never thought, "Oh, this might be too hard. Raising $20,000 in just over a week is almost impossible!" NO! She believes that God is going to provide the money by tomorrow. There is not ONE doubt in her mind.

So, I have a question for you... Will you join Lydia? Will you donate on Darya's behalf?

This is more than bringing a child home. This is proving to all non-believers that OUR GOD IS BIG! He can move mountains, and HE can raise $20,000 in 8 days! Everything is possible with God!

Are you willing to be a part of this Thanksgiving Miracle?

A Part of Who We Are

As we are nearing Ella's 2nd birthday,

I have been reflecting a lot on Ella's {and Joe's} birth country and birth mom.

It is easy to forget about their heritage

and the huge, most unselfish decision their birth mother made to give them up.

Not because we don't appreciate it

and not because we aren't grateful for it,

but because they are a part of us...

and we don't see them any different than Sarah, John, James, or Anna Grace.

Joe and Ella are just as much my kids as my four biological children are...

the only difference is-

the four older ones were born from my belly,

the two younger ones were born from my heart.

They "weren't born under my heart, but in it."

We love Guatemala.

Everything about it.

From the gorgeous hills and scenery to the beautiful people,

Guatemala is fascinating country.

Someday, when Joe and Ella are old enough,

we will travel back to Guatemala as a family

and share their heritage with them.

Someday, they will appreciate the choice their birth mom made.

Someday, they will notice that they look different than me.

Someday, they will start asking questions.

But, today, they see no difference.

They don't see any difference... and I like it that way.

There is a difference, though.

We don't forget it, but we embrace it.

Because of adoption, we are:

closer

stronger

more faithful

and richer in heart.

We are an adoptive family... we are a transracial adoptive family.

Some people may not understand why we chose to add to our family by international adoption.

but it is a part of our family.

It is what sets us apart.

It is who we are.

And, just as we are adopted into God's family, it is our job as Christians to advocate and care for the remaining 147 million orphans who continue to wait for a mommy and daddy to bring them home to their own family. We need to stand together and fight to make orphans history.

Is it a big task? Yes.

Does it seem overwhelming? Yes.

Is it impossible? NO.

Anything is possible with God. God is bigger than our biggest problems; including the orphan crisis... ESPECIALLY the orphan crisis. God is bigger than the orphan crisis.

I am just an individual who is stepping out to do my part to defend the cause of the fatherless.

I get so encouraged when I look around the blog world at all the other individuals who are also taking a stand. I look around and read about all the people who are doing unthinkable things to care for the orphans.

As I look around at everything that is being done to save the orphans, the unattainable number of 147 million, seems a little more attainable. I witness God's mighty power are I watch the selfless work being done by others.

He sees each and every one of the 147 million.

He knows them by name.

He knows their hurt and hears their cries.

He cares about each and every orphan around the world.

I'm Back

I am positive no one reads my blog anymore... and I have deserved it. I am a terrible blogger! I can just not bring myself to sit down at the computer and write out a post. Bad, I know. I was going to participate in the November Blog Posting Month: 30 Posts in 30 Days, but, as you can see, it's not working out for me. It was a far stretch for me, so I have decided to make a more attainable goal-- One post a week. I know that doesn't sound like much, but I am hoping it will bring me to post more.

My computer broke, so that hasn't helped either. With the computer went all my pictures! I am in the process of uploading all my pictures onto my laptop... so hopefully I can update with new pics soon!!!

***Lots has been going on around here! We've been crazy busy but lovin' life!

That's all for now!

-Shari

The Many Faces of Ella Marie

Staying with my promise to myself, I am working hard to post every day. Today's post is all about spunky little Ella. She is 11 1/2 months old, weighs about 20 pounds, and has curly, jet black hair. Not to mention her personality gets bigger everyday!!! As of October 18, she has been home for ONE year! Can you believe it? I sure can't! It seems like she has been here a lot longer than just one year, yet it feels like we just brought her home yesterday! (confusing???)

Ella has grown so much in the past year! She has done a great job trying to catch up with her older brother, Joe. She is now working on talking. She says quite a few words, but with 5 older siblings, she has to keep up!

Well that's all for today! Have a blessed week!!

-Shari

30 Posts in 30 Days

I admit it, I have been a terrible blogger. The truth is, I kind of just gave up on blogging and decided to just move on, but that was hard. I have continued to read blogs and follow the journeys of fellow adoptive families, and, while I was reading a blog, I came across a perfect chance to get back into blogging. So apparently November is National Blog Posting Month (correct me if I'm wrong) and to celebrate it, you are supposed to write a post each day of the month. I am not going to promise, but I will do my best to post each night about our latest happenings in the Stroup household. It also helps that I just got a new, professional camera that makes me want to take pictures of my kids every minute of the day. :)

So without further ado, here are some pictures to catch you up on the Stroup Happenings:

Big Bro's

AG and her friends!

As I have mentioned before, Ella and Joe are partners in crime. They (mostly) enjoy playing together and following each other around. I snapped this picture at Sarah's school during "Halloween in the Halls."

Our junior high cheerleader

Summer vacation to Destin, FL.